Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 May 1951 — Page 28

Drivers Keeping Eye On Fireproof Clothes

A new plastics company, with an eve toward making racing safer for drivers and less costly for car-owners, has moved into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, lock, Stock and racing car. The new company is the Featherweight Corp.. a subsidiary of Seal-Peel, Inc.. which is testing half & dozen new gimmicks, includifg a substance to keep race goggles from steaming; fireproofing for clothing, and plastic coating for race car parts. The corporation is sponsoring the Featherweight Special, which i= owned by colorful J. C. Agajanian of San Pedro, Cal. The car, which was the one in whic Walt Faulkner set a new qualifying record last year, is being used as a ‘guinea pig” for the mew products. Big Troy Ruttman, who is piloting the car, also ia coming in for the “guinea pig” treatment. The Seal-Peel Corp., which has a woman, Mildred Funk, as its president, started six years ago. Miss Funk and her brother, Dick, had developed a plastic process for ‘coating precision parts for shipping. The Featherweight produets have grown out of the original work on the plastic dip. When Ruttman takes to the track in the Featherweight Special, the car will be the first in the history of the track to have an

cloth bag to test the new liquid fireproofing at

weight company. Troy explained that the new then lighted, The flame undercoating weighs only three quickly to the part where the bag, and one-half pounds, instead of had been soaked and then went quantity of eggs

the 50-odd pounds, Which is the out, tion purposes.

burned damaged. her, and now

for demonstra-

They were un-

Faulkner, Duke Parsons also new fire-

8ta-Clear, a liquid that prevents proved, Walt steaming of glass. A little of the Nalon and Johnny liquid 1s applied to both sides of probably will use the the glass and it is impossible to proofing. steam the glass even with the, The new plastic dip saves crathuman breath. ing and boxing. When the part is curred in the 13th lap of the first st but not least, Ruttman’s ready for use, the plastic is easily race. A riding mechanic, 8. P. his‘ thing on race day will he peeled off. As a treated with No-Fire, a fireproof- recently, the company

tic--they wouldn't break.

First ‘500’ Fatality

Sma race tires,

‘recreation.’

dipped spun and overturned. ago.

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[ ome = aa : ______ THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

TRY FIREPROOFING—J. C. Agajanian (right), owner of the Featherweight Special, burns a aadnan as Howard H. Truitt Jr. looks on. the

president of The company also dipped a Speedway was the first American gotiate the short turns at high

driver to wear a crash helmet,

idea to dip all drivers in the plas- race without a tire change. a mile-

The first fatality in the “500” oc- Recreation for Rose

Mauri Rose call He retired from laps demonstration Dixon, was killed when his car racing in other events many years June,

The Worlds

New Plastics Firm Makes Tests of Speedway Midget Track

. Proving Grounds | For Stock Cars

But it isn't anything like the 5( {Mile event run May

the street in the “brickyard.”

top racing, stock model

screaming around an quarter-mile oval. track has been the scene midget car

Ringling Brothers,

the advent of the which moved into the

midgets, But the fact

and sedans were drawing fans. It wasn't long before p moters the country over w finding that ‘race’ fans w also ‘‘¢rash” fans. But the little West 16th Str track does have something common with the ‘500° acr street. Both are prov

grounds for the vou ride in today.

passenger

undercoating. The undercoating 1s Ing liquid. In Troy's demonstra- many articles, including a deli- - this may be found in the f the chief product of the Feather- tion, a cloth bag was partially cate watch, and flew them around First Crash Helmet that it was discovered a cert soaked with No-Fire, dried and the world. They came back un- yuipur Shaw, three time win- model car broke right fr

the wheels while attempting to

speeds, This led to a change

the front end construction of the the new ideas

traction test they

product can be improved.

This vear the midgets are mak- rerouted and relocated. But beNational fore the engine was placed in the 100 car, each individual part had to for be carefully checked for flaws,

ing a comeback bid. “500” driving AAA Championship races of have been scheduled July, ber.

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This too is billed as auto racing.

W)-

30th across hit of work and a knowledge of

The West 16th Street Midget Plsh. Speedway is the, scene of hard-

cars winner, asphalt tion Proof Special that

In the past the

races, hot rod races, Barnum and for this grind, he

Bailey circus, wrestling shows, boxing shows, bicvele races, and foothall games, Old-time racing men frowned on

hard-top cars picture several years ago to displace the remained that the boys in the beatup coupes

the roere ere

eet in Oss ing car

An example of

act ain ont ne-

undergo has tank installed and a new 270 cu, stone In the making of Deuter .,,,, engineers where their in. Myer-Drake engine was put in.

August and Septem-

- for the preliminary setup to see

TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1951

— ett — ee ———— S———

It Takes Year to Get Car Set for 500

Careful Planning, Hard Work Secret of Winner By HARRY STEPHENS Chief Mechanic, winning car, 1950 There's really no secret to handling the mechanical end of race car. It merely involves some careful planning, quite a what you are trying to accomWith enough planning, changing and work, the car can be a just like the Wynn FricJohnnie Parsons victory last year, The driver. naturally, has a lot to do with winning the race. But must have a car capable of going the full 200 laps,

piloted to

Engine Changed This vear, Parsons has anothe: Wynn Friction Proofing Special No. 3. This is the car driven by Freddie Agabashian last yeal The engine has been changed anc other improvements made. Planning and building a car for the 500-Mile Race takes nearl: a year. After the car is brought to Indianapolis, the work on getting it ready for the big race really begins. It first must be completely stripped. The frame is sand -blasted to remove all paint and dirt. Each part is carefully checked for, cracks or flaws. If there is thegslightest flaw in the part, it must be replaced without question. To leave in a part that “might” hold up would be endangering the life of the driver. Fuel Lines Rerouted While the car is disassembled, and changes are

JUST A TOY—Mechanic Harry Stephens gets a kick out of tinkering with this tiny engine built by Charles Kriegh, 3113 E 48th St. The engine works with a .650 bore and .750 stroke and

99 cu. inch piston displacement.

weight of other undercoatings. The liquid first must be tested broken in flight. : car. put into action. For example Ruttman’s goggles on race day and approved by the medical The Speedway is again a prov- No Tire Change Tires, too, come in for a hard this year the iframe of Parsons’ will be treated with Featherweight staff at the Speedway. If it is ap- ing grounds, Might not be a baa Gaston Chevrolet won the 1920 beating for the sliding, twisting car was rebuilt and a new fuel

All oil and fuel lines had to be

After all correction: and adjustments were made, it was time

that all parts fit. Since all drivers have different ideas as to comfort while driving, the setup must be checked to see that the controls are in the right places for the driver. Far From Ready It might seem the car at this point is ready for the track, but it is far from ready for that first trial spin. The car must be com- | pletely dismantled again. The [frame is then painted and all control units are plated or cov{ered with a protective coating. Then comes the final assembly and another check to see that everything is in its proper place. |The car is then ready for the first test run. Adjustments are then made on a trial and error basis. After each run, the engine must, ‘be checked to see that it is tight) and functioning properly. The! driver normally takes sping] amounting to about 100 miles of! driving. The car is then stripped! again and each part checked; re-| ‘assembled and considered ready. Before qualification, the driver, car owner and mechanic must go into a conference to determine how the car will be set up for the four-lap run.

Low Gear Used

Realizing that running at a lower revolutions per minute is easier on an engine and will allow a car to go farther, we selected a gear that would give us a speed of 132 to 133 miles per hour this vear. This gear used for qualifications must be used for the race, as well. | But due to improvements in the track because of weather conditions after Parsons qualified, three to four miles were added to qualifying speeds. After qualifying the first day, Parsons later took the car out and turned 135 {mph with ease to prove the gear would hit that speed. | ¥n displacement, we are allowed 274 cu. in. in a non supercharged engine and 183 cu. in, blown. 33 Years in Business Actual - preparations for the race starts in November after the last 100-mile AAA championship races.

I have a lot of years in the automotive businexgs, having started at the age of 12 as an apprentice, 35 years ago. JI.ast year, I had two cars to

nursemaid, the present Parsons car, which last year had a 176 cu. in. supercharged car, which Agabashian drove 160 miles before a supercharger gear went out, and the Parsons car was sold to Jim Robbins the day before last year's race to be delivered after the race. Of course, a little luck helps, too. Mavbe we can combine

everything for a repeat performance this year.

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: AAA Steward at '500' Classic,

TUESL

IAC

80 Pe Report

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